Brisbane Broncos vs. North Queensland Cowboys: Grand Final Winners and Losers

The 2015 National Rugby League grand final had it all: Long-range tries, huge hits, last-minute drama and a golden-point drop goal to settle matters.

In the end, though, the North Queensland Cowboys were crowned champions, pipping the Brisbane Broncos 17-16 at ANZ Stadium in Sydney, Australia.

Johnathan Thurston, of course, was the hero for his beloved Cowboys.

Having failed with a conversion attempt to win the match at the end of 80 minutes, the half-back made sure he didn't miss with a drop goal in the first period of extra time.

The one-pointer ended a dramatic game and broke Brisbane hearts.

The Broncos had led 16-12 when the final hooter sounded, only to concede a try on the very last play of the contest.

Michael Morgan's sensational pass allowed Kyle Feldt to score in the right corner. Although Thurston's conversion struck the post and stayed out, the Cowboys were not to be denied.

The Premiership is the first for North Queensland in their 20th anniversary season, while the all-Queensland final saw a record attendance of 82,758.

Here, Bleacher Report picks out the winners and losers from surely the most dramatic grand final in the NRL's history.

Thurston was already a winner, even before a ball had been kicked in Sydney.

The North Queensland co-captain had started grand final week by winning the Dally M medal for a record-breaking fourth time.

Thurston had already won a title in 2004, though that was during his time with the Canterbury Bulldogs. 

However, winning with North Queensland—the team he joined back in 2005—must feel extra special. And what a way to win it, too.

Having seen his touchline conversion after the hooter stay out via an upright, he kept his cool early in extra time to drop over the goal that clinched the trophy.

Phil Gould wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald, "If ever there was a fairytale that could deliver a message to our children about tenacity, sacrifice, and the fact that success smiles on effort, then Johnathan Thurston's golden point moment in Sunday's grand final is that fairytale."

When Thurston kicked the winning point, no player can have felt it more than Brisbane’s Ben Hunt.

The Broncos half-back gifted the Cowboys the opportunity to clinch victory by spilling the kick-off at the start of extra time.

His knock-on gave North Queensland a scrum in front of the posts. Although unable to get the drop goal off immediately, they managed to set up the opportunity for Thurston to clinch it.

Hunt had also given away a costly penalty late in regulation, his tip-tackle resulting in him being placed on report, and he was also stripped of possession in the closing minutes.

The threat of suspension won’t be on his mind, though.

All Hunt will be thinking about is that drop at the kick-off. He has a long summer to mull it over, too.

Johnathan Thurston was, unsurprisingly, awarded the Clive Churchill Medal as the player of the match.

However, his half-back partner, Morgan, must have come under serious consideration from the judging panel.

The Queensland State of Origin player saved his side from defeat with a moment of magic on the last play.

He attacked down the right flank against a broken defensive line, drawing in three Broncos before releasing a wonderful, one-handed pass out of the tackle.

Winger Feldt was there in support to accept the pass and score the try that drew the Cowboys level.

Justin Hodges was one tackle away from rounding out his career as a champion.

The veteran centre only played in the grand final after escaping suspension for a dangerous throw during his side’s preliminary final win over Sydney Roosters.

Captain Hodges—who was hampered by a back injury—must have thought he would lift the trophy when his side defended in stoic fashion in the final quarter.

However, the late drama in Sydney denied Hodges the perfect finish before he hangs up his boots. 

Still, cross-code star Israel Folau paid tribute to the Brisbane captain on Twitter: "Disappointing end to Justin Hodges career but you've had a tremendous career. One of the best to ever play the game."

Losing an NRL grand final is a new experience for Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett.

He had steered the Broncos to six titles in his first spell in charge, then he won the Premiership with St George Illawarra Dragons in 2010.

In fact, Bennett had a perfect record in NRL grand finals going into Sunday’s game—seven appearances, seven wins.

He must have thought he was going to make it eight from eight when his team led by four in the final seconds.

Still, Bennett should be seriously proud of his side. They finished second in the table at the end of the regular season then knocked out the minor premiers to reach the grand final.

The former Australia coach was less enthusiastic about the golden-point rule, however, per abc.net: "I still don't see what's wrong with a draw. The season doesn't have to change anything. For 100 years we didn't have golden point and we still had a great game."

North Queensland coach Paul Green knows all about the qualities of the man he was up against, as he used to work under rival Bennett at Brisbane.

Now, though, he has made a name for himself in the coaching ranks, securing his first title in just his second year at the Cowboys.

Winger Feldt was full of praise for his boss, per Nathan Ryan of Fox Sports: "He just gets the best out of every player he coaches and it’s shown throughout the year."

The good news for Cowboys fans is that the club had already handed Green a contract extension earlier in the year, keeping him in Townsville for a further three years.